Publications by authors named "Siebe Berrens"

This study explores the optimisation of rearing substrates for black soldier fly larvae (BSFL). First, the ideal dry matter content of substrates was determined, comparing the standard 30% dry matter (DM) with substrates hydrated to their maximum water holding capacity (WHC). Substrates at maximal WHC yielded significantly higher larval survival rates ( = 0.

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Insect farming, a potential approach to deal with the increasing global protein demand, is a new activity in the Western world with many unanswered questions regarding product quality and safety. Insects may fulfill an important role in a circular economy by upcycling biowaste into valuable biomass. About half of the total mass of mealworm feeding substrates exists out of wet feed.

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Article Synopsis
  • The mealworm production industry is still developing, lacking the long-established practices seen in traditional livestock farming.
  • This research focuses on optimizing reproduction factors like beetle density and oviposition duration, which impact the number of mealworms produced.
  • By harvesting eggs from the substrate, the study aims to improve understanding of egg quantity, hatching rates, and the effects of harvesting methods on these outcomes.*
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Due to increasing welfare and population, the demand for alternative protein sources, obtained with minimal use of natural resources, is rising in today's society. Insects have the potential to be used as an alternative protein source since they are considered to be able to convert low-value biomass into high-value components, resulting in opportunities for valorisation of organic side streams. Moreover, insects are suggested to be a sustainable protein source, referring to the efficient "feed to body" mass conversion potential.

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